Over 30 business leaders were in awe after students presented their business plans and operations to them at the Junior Achievement Company of Entrepreneurs (JACE) Annual General Meeting (AGM) held recently at the Jamaica Conference Centre in Kingston. The business leaders were adjudicating the presentations of 41 student companies participating in the 2014-2015 JACE programme.

Donna Duncan-Scott of Jamaica Money Market Brokers sat on one of the judging panels and was impressed by the level of details in the students’ presentations.

“We had some excellent teams. They were really good. Their high level of sound business thinking and research came across in their presentations. Some teams stood out more than others and demonstrated a wholesome approach to building out a business,” commented Duncan-Scott.

Owner of Capital Options Limited, Oliver Holmes expressed similar sentiments and noted that his fellow judges were able to guide the student companies in improving certain aspects of their businesses.

The JACE programme, which is now in its fifth year of operation, aims to build the entrepreneurial mindset of youth in schools and community-based organizations across the island by guiding them into starting and running their own businesses. This year, 40 high schools and one church group are participating in the programme as a result of sponsorships and business mentorship by Citibank, JN Fund Managers Limited, CB Group, CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank, General Electric, Carib Cement, EY, International Caribbean Studies, Joan Duncan Foundation and the United States Agency for International Development.